Sharks center Joe Thornton was named the captain for the Western Conference squad at Sunday’s NHL All-Star Game in Montreal. Thornton, who is tied for second in the league with 43 assists, sounded genuinely surprised by the honor.

“They must of picked me because I’m getting old,” said Thornton,29.

Thornton will be joined on the Western Conference squad by teammates Dan Boyle and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks’ Todd McLellan also is coaching the team.

The team reassigned defenseman Derek Joslin to Worcester Thursday. He will play in the American Hockey League All-Star game Monday for the Canadian squad. The game will be played in Worcester.

Three women have told the New York Times that music mogul Russell Simmons raped them, the latest in a cascade of serious allegations of sexual misconduct against powerful men in entertainment, media, politics and elsewhere.